Diffuser - Making the Grade (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

Diffuser makes me feel like a school girl...

tbiddy | NYC | 12/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I know, I know. I'm probably too old to like this stuff. Heck, this made me even question my membership as a manly-man. But, lo and behold...I looked in the mirror this morning, facial hair? Check. Yes, it's true...I'm still a man. But you know what didn't change? I STILL like this album. Maybe I won't like it 2 years from now, maybe I will, but there is one thing I've learned in my short 25 years on the planet Earth: you have to critique music on the merits of their respective genres. Meaning, if it's nu-metal, is it GOOD nu-metal, if it's pop-punk, is it GOOD pop-punk? Diffuser could fit nicely in the categories of emo/pop-punk/power-pop. Before you review (or more accurately make an alleged "un-biased" "biased" judgment) you must FIRST know what you're getting yourself into. Are we gonna hear rabid, rapid-fire political rants? Nope. Are we going to hear bloodcurdling screams and/or barking followed by frantic, frenetic strumming and inhuman tempo changes? Probably not. Should we suspect hook-laden melodies, and infectious even "bratty," occasionally vulgar, corn-syrupy sweet vocal harmonies? Darn tootin.' APLENTY. Now, I admit I'm making a reviewer "cardinal sin" by not having heard any of Diffuser's other releases. Some might argue this might make my review either "less valid" or "more objective" depending on your viewpoint, but I'm throwing all that out the window and reviewing this album solely on its own individual effort. Like when listening to a lot of pop music, or watching any movie made in the 80's you have to have sort of a "suspension of disbelief" if you will. In other words...just have fun. Get lost in it, don't think about it too much, just kick back and go with the flow. Diffuser makes it very easy to do this. Hook after hook, melody after melody this album does not let up. If you like super radio friendly pop-music, or are a teenage girl...you'll eat this stuff for breakfast. This album makes ME want to put on a Catholic school-girl uniform and put my hair in pigtails. But fear not my hardrockin' and or/homophobic friends. There's some good ol' fashioned gweetar chuggin' on this album as well. This album certainly rocks out at times, and the production is top notch courtesy of emo/punk uber-producer Mark Trombino. This man knows how to crank out the good punk tunes. Look no further than Finch if you don't think this man can crank out a "fresh" album. There are some subtle things on the album that some "mildly-seasoned" and "seasoned" "production douche-bags" such as myself will enjoy. The wide-panned vocals when the choruses kick in, the left-right panning on the various instruments, and subtle guitar tone changes that change the character of some of the songs. You'll have to listen REALLY closely for that kind of stuff...this is just to illustrate that SONICALLY this album is musical BUTTER. Some of my personal favorite standouts include: Only in the Movies, I Wonder and the outstanding "I hit repeat EVERYTIME I listen to it" song: She's All Mine. Dope, dope, dope... She's All Mine is a FINE example of controlled production. The guitar tone is actually very "nu-metal," but instead, Mark Trombino is focused on the melody and vocals of the song. So, why...oh, why T. Biddy after popping a musical "woody" over this teeny-bopper album would you only give it 4 stars? Well, there are a couple of burned edges on this tasty slice of "buttered musical toast." Breakaway sounds a little too much like a Barenaked Ladies B-side, while pseudo-acoustic number Long Way from Home feels a bit out of place and a smidge "Dashboard Confessional-ish" for such a speedy straightforward rockin' album. This song makes me feel like I got shot in the back of the neck with a tranquilizer dart after bouncing around like a 16 year-old at a Blink-182 concert. And now I must reclaim my dignity as a man by popping in a Pantera or Ice Cube CD, dragging my knuckles and scratching myself..."

A Radical change for Diffuser, and not for the better

radujak | San Diego | 12/15/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I was introduced to Diffuer by the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack. I liked their single "Karma" enough to go out and by their album Injury Loves Melody, a truly great album that was just straight out rock'n'roll. Imagine my dismay when I heard the few first songs off of this release. They have been tranformed into a generic pop-punk band meant to appeal to the teeny-boppers who buy Good Charlotte and A simple plan albums. Their songs could not possibly be more cliche. I would recommend buying their first album, but their second album makes me want to cry. Of course, their objective with this Cd was album sales, and that, no doubt, is what this album will acheive."

Making The Grade

tbiddy | 07/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Diffuser's album Making The Grade is an above average attempt at a record for the masses. Heartfelt, easy to relate to lyrics paired with rock instrumentation give this band one decent addition to anyone's collection. "New High", "Get It On", and "I Wonder" are definately not your average uptempo hits, nor are they what makes this band different from the rest; songs including "Breakaway", "Nothing Left To Say", and "She's All Mine" are just the right type of calm, serene, slower balads that seperate them from all the other new alterna-pop/punk rock bands the new music scene is fueled by. A definate to take a few listens to."

Although They Changed, This One Still Makes The Grade

CFal | Bellevue, WA United States | 10/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The title may be saying this one is "make-it or break-it," but Diffuser have come out swinging (again) with the release of their second full-length album, "Making The Grade," which although changes to a much more firendlier, conventional sound, but still contains the charm of their first disc."Injury Loves Melody," was the perfect title for the first cd, which had a raging flair to it's melodic choruses. Now, the band has replaced two members and is working with one of punk-rock's most respected producers, Mark Trombino, a man who made blink-182, Jimmy Eat World as well as billions of other bands high school girls love famous. Well, Mark has transformed Diffuser from a differnt kind of punk band into what punk is defined as today: fast, catchy and well, sometimes bland.But, Diffuser take this formula and are able to capture the magic of very catchy hooks and winning lyrics that their first album contained. Sure, it's all pretty general stuff, nothing new or spectacular, but that's just fine, because Diffuser has the capability to make their sound a little more distant than bands that begin to sound alike, with each passing moment (Good Charlotte and Mest, anyone?).The album starts off strong with the bright-and-sunny, yet kinda-dark "New High," and then follows with the song that will stick in your head like gum, "Get It On." They continue this magic trend with other catchy, "f*** you" power houses like "Here's To You," "I Wonder," and the nearest thing to metal, "Avoid The Friction."Along with the acoustic "Breakaway," (a song that will suck you right in, especially if you're on the open road), and the emotional "Why," Diffuser shows off their chops as good songwriters, who display bitterness without sounding too mad and humor without trying too hard (although "I Wonder" comes close). Biting humor may not be their strong point, but that's okay; the songs still have a sense of direction.Diffuser doesn't look to be the next mall punk band to pop off the Warped Tour and climb aboard the TRL bandwagon, so if you're a fan from their Flu 13 days, don't choke on your words quite yet, because Diffuser looks to still be where they were before, but they just want the credit they deserve, even if it means going down the road that's been much, much travelled."

Made the Grade

Molly | Rochester, NY | 07/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Cd is Amazing...it Def. made the grade in my book....the lyrics are captivating and real....you can feel what Tomas felt when he wrote these songs..there is not a single song to skip over and THAT makes a GREAT Album when you can listen to it straight through...i Def. wont be taking it outta my cd player and time soon!"

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	Diffuser Making the Grade Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock Track Listings (13) - Disc #1 New High - Diffuser, Cangelosi, Anthony Get It On Only in the Movies Why I Wonder Far and in Between Breakaway Here's to You She's All Mine Long Way from Home Nothing Left to Say - Diffuser, Cangelosi, Anthony Avoid the Friction Get It On [Multimedia Track]
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